Health and Science Innovations in health and science disciplines and related workforce development and career pathways.

Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability Innovations in energy, environment, and sustainability and green disciplines, and their related workforce training and career pathways, as well as institutional efforts toward energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, and environmental sustainability.

Mathematics, Engineering, and ArchitectureInnovations in mathematics, engineering, and architecture and related workforce development and career pathways.

Manufacturing, Industry, Agriculture, and Aerospace
Innovations in manufacturing, industry, agriculture, aerospace, and related workforce development and career pathways.

Technology, Multimedia, and TelecommunicationsInnovations in technology, multimedia, telecommunication disciplines, and related workforce development and career pathways.

Recruiting, Retaining, and Transitioning Students Into STEM Programs Innovative strategies for encouraging students into STEM programs and on to four-year programs or STEM-related careers.

The Integration of STEM and the Liberal Arts (New for 2012)Effective methods and techniques to integrate science, technology, engineering, mathematics; humanities; and liberal, fine, language, and physical arts, as well as research into the impact of interdisciplinary approaches to science, technology, engineering, mathematics education.